Fruit-hamper.



F. F. BEHRENS.

FRUIT HAMPER.

APPLICATION FILED IuLY I6. |915.

1,217,137. Patented 1161211917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

F. F. BEHRENS.

I FRUIT HAMPER. APPLICATION FILED JULY I6, 1915.

Patented Feb. 27, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

narran srarns rafrnn'r carica.

FREDERICK F. BFI-innns, oF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

FRUIT-HAMPER.

Application led July 16, 1915.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK F. Bin-rmnvs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Hampers, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to means for facilitatingl the gathering of fruits and nuts, its object being to provide a hamper, whereby thev fruit, when shaken or picked from a tree, may be received and conveyed into baskets or other suitable receptacles, without injury thereto.

A further object ofvmy invention is to provide a device of the character described that is readily assembled, and that when assembled, will present a strong and staple article, and that when disassembled, will fold into a small, compact form.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a means whereby my improved hamper may be adapted to fit any ordinary tree, and securely attach itself thereto.

Vtith these and other objects of general utility in view, I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my iinproved hamper assembled around a tree;

Fig. 2 is a top plan thereof;

Fig. 3 is an inverted or under plan, and- Figs, et and are enlarged details of the special form of spike employed in securing the hamper to the tree.

Similar reference characters refer respectively to similar parts throughout the several views.

My hamper comprises, primarily, a rectangular, knockdown, tubular metal frame 10 suitably supported at its four corners, by adjustable legs 11, and a canvas 12 stretched across and secured thereto by clips 13. The canvas is preferably divided into four like hoppers 12, each respective hopper leading to its funnel or mouth l-l. The center of the canvas is cut away to receive the trunk of the tree, and a slit is cut from one edge of the canvas to and terminating in thiscut Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 191'?.

Serial No. 40,218.

out portion. The edges of the slit are provided with means, such as snaps or buttons 15, for closing the same after the canvas has been assembled around a tree. In order to accommodate the varying diameters of trees, 1 provide an auxiliary canvas 16, adapted to be laced to the tree trunk at a point above the intersection of the canvas 12, and to flare out and cover the cut out or central portion thereof (Fig. 2).

As a means for holding the canvas 12 in position for securing the frame 10 rigid. to the tree', I provide a chain 17, circumferentially disposed about the trunk thereof (Fig. 3) its two ends being joined by means of a turnbuckle 18. vThis chain is adapted to pass through apertures 19 in a seriesv of blocks 20, having spurs 21 extending from their inner sides, and eyes 22 protruding diametrically opposite thereto. lhese blocks 2O are connected to the frame 10 by means of suitable links 23. Also, the funnels 14 of the hoppers, are connected by means of similar links 241- to the chain 17 and the frame 10.

It will be apparent from the foregoing, that in assembling the hamper, first the frame 10 is set up around the tree and the canvases 12 and 16 putin place; then the chain 1T with its blocks 2O and linkslor rods 21 are assembled thereto; the chain is then dra wn up by means of the turnbuckle 18, forcing the spurs 21 into the tree and also drawing the rods 23 and 24; taut, thus making the entire structure one of extreme rigidit'v.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is A fruit hamper comprising a frame, a canvas stretched across and secured thereto, an auxiliary canvas superimposed and spaced awa-y from said first mentioned canvas and flared to cover the central `portion of said first mentioned ca.nvas,said first mentioned canvas providing a plurality of hoppers, means for securing said frame to the trunk of a tree, said means comprising a chain circumferentially disposed -about the trunk of said tree, means for connecting the ends of said chain, blocks laced upon said chain having inwardly protruding spurs and eX- as my own I have hereto aHXed my signatendmg eyelets, means connectmg sald eyeture 1n the presence of two subscrlbmg Wltlets wlth the frame, and means tor spaemg nesses.

the mouths of said hoppers from the frame FREDERICK F. BEHRENS. Consisting of links connecting said mouths Ttnessesc with the frame and chain respectively. J. FRED ANDERSON,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing A. C. LINK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C, 

